My friends have always critiqued me- or maybe they were complimenting me?- when it came to my choice of outfits. I mean saying “What the hell are you wearing?!Only you could pull that off!” – is a compliment, right? I’d like to think so.

Whether it was wearing a party dress with ankle booties, wearing a white crew t-shirt tucked into my black leggings with a navy blazer or mixing patterns like floral with stripes, or my favorite- wearing cute socks with closed toe heels! (oh my, a horror to my friends), I ALWAYS strive to make Fashion fun- to make it ME- to make it different- and the best part is — I actually don’t care what people say- because as long as I feel confident and I feel good- I have a great time and I get things done! “Look good, Do good” mentality.

I know there are a lot of people out there who may not feel as confident or as comfortable stepping out of the norm. I guess what I mean is people who don’t live and breathe fashion. You know the people who find items that “go” together…. making sure the jacket matches the shirt or the top matches the pants.

All that going and matching and fitting might make for a perfectly good outfit, but it’ll never really get you to a great one. For greatness, you’ve got to go in the opposite direction.

I make it a point to find items based on differences, rather than similarities. You know this actually helps you get more use out of your clothes than if you were persistent on always matching.

I will share with you the common ways to not follow the “My shirt must match my pants” mentality and thus get that Great outfit!

1) Wear ankle boots with a party dress. You will look fierce, yet not too prim and proper.

2)Vintage tees with classic blazers

3) Jeans and Heels

4) Stripes and Florals – okay, do pick a color that is in both prints – like blue stripes — blue florals 🙂

5) Brown and Black and Black and Navy – I remember when people would cringe (and still do) when I tell them to wear their brown shoes with black pants. Same for Navy/Black. Think LBD with a navy gold chain clutch.

7). Leather “work men” belt and polished dress or coat or high waist long skirts – In college, I would wear a belt with almost every outfit. I have my mothers Camel color leather braided belt that she wore in Poland when she was in her 20s =)